SEN Cross Border Parent, Community and School Partnership Programme
The aim of the project is to bring schools, parents and their communities together by establishing effective local networks with schools at the heart of the home-to school programme. Through the programme the quality of education fro children with special educational needs will be improved. There are three elements of the programme:
- Children with Autism – A Home to School Support Programme
To empower parents with the skills and knowledge to cope with the impact of autism on home life and transition to school. To work with school staff to help their child engage and enjoy school. Participants will work to prepare a short guide /programme to help year 1/junior infant teachers to gain confidence to involve parents in the transition of children from home/pre-school to primary school. To encourage schools to develop positive working relationships with parents, give advice, practical help and support as the child settles into school and to work along side their peers.
- Hard to help Young people – The Home – School Virtual Link
This targets a small number of young people who are out of school:
- bullying, illness, challenging behaviour and dysfunctional environments
- in care or ‘looked after’
- persistent non-attenders
The programme will provide home based computerised learning support training to six schools and support for some 30 young people over the 18 months period.
The key aspect is to engage young people in education and development of social and employment skills.
- A Portable Language and Communication Programme:
Designed for parents and early year’s teachers to support children with communication difficulties/restricted language development. To gain confidence in addressing their difficulties and enjoy their time in school.
Bringing together a small group of schools: i.e. teachers and speech and language therapist/s to create a programme which schools can use to involve parents/careers in the implementation of this programme. Our focus is on early development of language and play skills to enable/nurture children to benefit from their experiences in school.
Progress to date:
March 2007 – Launch Conference in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan.
March- June 2007- Teachers meet monthly to collaborate and design resources.
September- December 2007- Resources are piloted in schools.
January- February 2008- Evaluation of pilot and final editing of resources.
Projected timeline:
March- April 2008- Publication of resources
May 2008- Final conference, Great Northern Hotel, Donegal.